Staff Training and Competency Deficiencies in Resident Care Assignments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff assigned to provide direct resident care in two cottages, Susitna and Nenana, were appropriately trained or had up-to-date competencies. In Nenana Cottage, a Rehabilitation Aide was assigned to work as a CNA despite not having performed CNA duties in over three years. The aide's last documented training for safe patient handling and peri care was nearly a year prior, and there was no current CNA training or competency validation on file. In Susitna Cottage, an MDS Nurse, who had not previously worked as a CNA and had not provided direct patient care in many years, was observed providing incontinence care to a resident. The MDS Nurse did not have documented training or competency in peri care, and the Director of Staff Development confirmed that no nurses had been trained in peri care since assuming their position. These deficiencies were identified through interviews, observations, and record reviews, and affected a total of 23 residents across both cottages. The facility's own assessment stated that all staff are to receive training and demonstrate competencies necessary for resident care, with records maintained and reviewed by the staff development coordinator and QAPI committee. However, the lack of current training and competency validation for staff providing direct care was not consistent with these stated practices.